European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Substance abuse is increasing in young population of India at alarming rates. Younger
generation abuse the substance to gain temporary pleasure, to relive stress and under peer pressure.
Medical students are more prone to substance abuse because of longer working hours, high pressure
working environment and stress.
Objectives: Present study aims towards finding a correlation between stress and addictive behaviors, so
as to recognize the extent to which stress affects the medical students. Present study also focusses on
establishing comprehensive measures to manage stress among medical students.
Methodology: Total 200 undergraduate medical students were recruited in present study. The stress level
was analysed using perceived stress scale (PSS) and perceived academic stress scale (PASS). Substance
abuse was analysed using drug abuse screening test (DAST-10) and alcohol use disorders identification
test (AUDIT).
Results: A significantly high correlation was found in the stress level and substance abuse among
undergraduate medical students. PSS exhibit correlation of 0.3589 with AUDIT and 0.3194 with DAST.
PASS exhibit correlation of 0.4760with AUDIT and 0.3775with DAST.
Conclusion: Stress was found to be a significant problem among medical students and this leads to
consumption of alcohol and other illicit mind-altering psychoactive substances in an attempt to cope with
various academic and other life stressors.Awareness creation about the adverse effects of substance use
and academic counseling in the first 2-3 years of course and putative stress reduction interventions are
recommended and needed.